The quiet of an early Sunday morning was shattered in south-east Delhi's Kalkaji area when a restaurant close to the Kalkaji-Govindpuri flyover was engulfed in flames. The blaze spread with such ferocity that three commercial LPG cylinders stored inside detonated one after another, sending shockwaves through the neighbourhood. What could have turned into a far bigger tragedy was averted only because fire crews reached the spot in time.
Where and When the Fire Broke Out
According to the Delhi Fire Service, the alert came in at around 4:45 AM. The fire had erupted at a restaurant named Punjabi Tadka in H-Block, situated right next to Anjali Jewellers and Deshbandhu Gupta College. The moment the call was received, firefighters launched relief and rescue operations without delay.
Nine Tenders Thrown Into the Battle
In the first response, 2 water tenders, 3 water bowsers and 1 breathing support unit were dispatched to the site. But as the scale of the fire became clear, a ‘MAKE-4’ call was declared at 5:05 AM, prompting more vehicles to be rushed in. Eventually, a total of 9 fire engines were pressed into service to douse the flames — comprising 3 water tenders, 4 water bowsers, 1 breathing support unit and 1 multipurpose vehicle.
Elderly Woman Rescued From the Second Floor
During the operation, firefighters safely brought out Sita Devi, a woman aged between 70 and 75, who was trapped on the second floor of the building. Officials said the structure was a large one — it included a basement, a ground floor, three storeys and a temporary construction built on the roof of the third floor, all of which made the rescue work even more demanding.
Hours of Struggle, Cooling Operation Now Underway
After several hours of relentless effort, the fire department managed to bring the blaze largely under control. A cooling operation is currently in progress to ensure that no smouldering ember flares up again. According to officials, apart from Sita Devi, no other injuries or casualties have been reported in the incident. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be established — an investigation is on, and the real reason will only emerge once the preliminary inquiry is complete.
